Life After Role Play
Chapter 25
After the short flight, we landed in the Charlotte airport at 12:30. Harry kissed us all goodbye, telling the kids he would see them tonight, before following a team of security through a discreet exit.
Caroline and I hauled the kids towards baggage claim where we grabbed all of our stuff before heading out to the car.
This time we rented an Escalade, so that we would have more room. We piled the bags into the car and strapped the kids into their seats.
“Mommy I hungry” Sophie wined,
“I know, but we are going to be at Aunt Lilly's soon and we can have some lunch their!” I said as I plugged in directions into my phone.
Caroline got all of their iPads going so that each kid was either watching a movie or playing a game.
The drive to Lilly's was short, but there was a ton of traffic. I couldn’t help but think that this traffic was all for the One Direction concert tonight.
Finally we pulled up to Lilly's home, where I saw my parents car parked out front.
“Alright babes we are here. Caroline I called a car for you as well, and it will take you back to the hotel. Once you check in I might text you to come back over and help with the kids tonight. I’ll let you know, but if we end up going out to eat I’ll need you to watch the twins. Thank you so much for being such a huge help these past few days. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you!” I said before giving her a hug and peck on a cheek.
As she was saying goodbye to the kiddos, her black SUV pulled up, and she unloaded her bags into the car and waved goodbye.
“Bye Caroline” Sophie yelled while blowing kisses.
I smiled at their interaction, knowing that Caroline was a nanny/assistant that was going to be irreplaceable.
I unbuckled Sophie from her seat letting her stand by me while I got the twins out.
I put a twin on each of my hips, before grabbing my purse and diaper bag.
We all walked up to the door, Henry starting to whine, and Sophie asking too many questions.
“Soph, ring the door bell” I said,
She did as I said, and before I knew it, we were being enveloped in hugs by my family.
“Lilly!” I yelled, as we all walked into the house. I gave her a huge kiss on the cheek, considering it was hard to hug with two babies on my hips.
Sophie clung to my leg, while I said hello to everyone. At Lilly's house was my parents, Lilly's husband, and her three kids.
Sarah, Lilly's youngest, came up to say hi to Sophie.
Sophie, who is usually the opposite of shy, continued to cling onto my legs.
“Sophie go play with Sarah. I bet she has some really cool toys upstairs!” I said,
Sarah reached out her hand and Sophie hesitantly grabbed it, before walking up stairs with my niece.
“Where’s Harry?” Lilly asked,
“He has a concert tonight, and wasn't able to stop by here before going to the arena. He needed to do sound check and stuff before the show. He’ll be here later tonight though!” I said,
“Aud let me take one of them for you” my mom said, offering her hands out to take one of the twins.
I handed her Gracey because Henry was being fairly fussy. I was wondering if he needed a diaper change.
I was starting to miss Caroline already.
“Well Dad and Ben (Lilly's husband) will go out and grab your bags.” My mom said, cooing at Gracey who was smiling like crazy.
I mumbled a quick thank you before sitting down next to Lilly on the couch.
“So how has my big celebrity sister been?” Lilly asked,
“I’ve been good. Stuff has been so crazy lately with Harry on tour and me trying to launch my new fashion line. But its been good. We’ve been making it work!” I said,
“Good good. Well I wanna see your new line of clothing. You will have to show me later!” Lilly said while making faces at Henry.
“Audrey, did you travel here alone with the three kids?” my mom asked,
I laughed a little, “Oh no. That would have been a disaster. Our nanny/my personal assistant Caroline came with us. She is staying at the Ritz downtown, and she has the next few days off before heading back with us to LA” I said, not wanting to sound too annoying about having a personal assistant.
“I see” my mom said,
“I should probably get the kiddos something to eat” I said standing up from the couch,
“Let me help. Do they all eat grilled cheese?” My mom asked, putting Gracey on her hip,
“Yes they do!” I said, commending her for such a good idea
Mom starting making the food, while I played with Henry and Gracey on the floor. My dad had brought in the diaper bag with all of their toys in it, so for the moment they were happy.
I chatted with Lilly and my Dad, and filled them in on how crazy life has been these past couple months.
They were shocked that I was raising three kids on my own while Harry was on tour. It sounded worse than it was, it wasn’t like I didn't have help. At home we have a chef, two personal assistants, a security team, and Caroline. So I wasn’t exactly doing everything by myself.
“Alright lunch is ready!” Mom said,
I stuck Gracey and Henry into the hair chair seats that I had packed for them, before calling Sophie downstairs.
I watched as Sophie held tightly onto Sarah's hand as they walked down the stairs, making sure she didn’t fall.
I snapped a quick picture of the two blonde cuties, before putting my phone away and feeding my whiney two year olds.
“Sophie go sit down next to Nana and Pop Pop and eat your grilled cheese” I said,
Gracey ate, making a mess all over herself, while Henry picked at his food, also making a mess all over himself.
“So whats the plan for today? Are we eating dinner here or going out?” I asked, trying to figure out the best time for the twins to take a nap.
“We are going to eat dinner here, just having hamburgers and hotdogs, and then today we can just hangout. Sarah is going to the One Direction concert with friends, so she will be out tonight” Lilly said,
“Sarah do you have good seats for tonight? You know you never need to buy tickets, that you can just text me and we can get you passes!” I said, surprised she didn’t ask me before,
“Yah I think our seats are alright!” she said,
“Well let me know if they aren’t, and i’ll text Harry and he can leave you guys some backstage passes at the booth.” I said,
“That would actually be amazing. Thank you Aunt Audrey” she said with a huge smile on her face,
I texted Harry and he said he would make it happen.
Gracey then started to pitch a fit, banging her sip cup on the table.
I took Gracey on my left hip and put Henry on the other, and decided that it was nap time for them.
“No nap mommy” Henry whined, as I laid him down in a pack n play.
“Just for a little while ok?” I said, and kissed the top of his head.
I settled Gracey down, giving her a passie before laying her down in her pack n play as well.
“Night night” I said, before closing the door.
I had the monitor set up on my phone, so I could hear when they were crying.
I walked back downstairs, to find the whole family seated in the living room watching the Panthers football game.
I sat down in a chair next to the couch. Sophie got up from her seat next to Nana to come sit in my lap.
“Mommy can we facetime daddy?” She asked,
He had told her in the airport that she could facetime him before the concert, but I didn’t think she would rememeber.
“Of course” I said and pulled out my phone.
“Hey we are going to facetime Harry before his show if anyone wants to wish him good luck or say hi!” I said to the family,
Before I knew it, Lilly had muted the TV and everyone was huddled around my chair,
The facetime was ringing, and I saw that it said connecting, so I knew we would see his sweet face soon.
“Hi” I heard him say,
“Daddy!!” Sophie yelled, causing everyone to laugh.
She tried to grab the screen but was upset when she realized that he wasn’t going to magically appear out of the screen.
“Hi Soph! Have you had fun at Aunt Lilly's house?” he said,
“yes. I wanna play with you daddy” she said with a pout on her face,
“Well I have a show tonight but tomorrow we can play together all day” he said, causing my mom and Lilly to aww.
“How is everyone?” Harry said, saying hellos to my family.
“Hi Harry!” everyone was saying.
“Good luck in the show tonight” Lilly said,
“Thank you. And I left four backstage passes in roll call, so when Sarah gets to the check in tell her to go to roll call and grab the tickets” he said,
“Thanks Uncle Harry!” Sarah yelled,
He responded with a cheeky grin.
Sophie and Harry talked for a little longer before Harry had to go to meet and greets.
“Alright Soph, i’ve gotta go” he said, and I could hear in the background Paul yelling at the boys to get going.
“No say goodbye” Sophie wined,
“I’ll see you tonight.” he said before blowing kisses into the camera
“Bye daddy.” she said,
“Bye Sophie. Love you.” he said,
“Bye Haz. Have a good show” I said, and made a kissie face
“Thanks babe. Love you. I’ll text you when I’m on the way to Lilly's.” he said, before hanging up.
Right after we hung up with Harry, Sophie started sobbing. While everyone was trying to watch the football game, she was screaming and having a melt down. Great!
I couldn’t make out what she was saying, but I knew it had to do with the fact that she missed her daddy. It made me sad to see her miss him so much, because I knew how hard it had to be for a four year old to have to understand seeing her daddy one minute and then him leaving the next.
I picked up her little figure, while she wrapped her arms around my neck.
“It’s okay baby, Daddy will be home soon.” I said, trying to calm her down.
“I want daddy” she cried,
“I know” I said, stroking her back trying to get her to stop crying.
After I finally calmed her down enough, I carried her upstairs with me so that I could get my computer, and then we walked back downstairs.
The concert wasn’t for a couple more hours, but I opened my photos, and let Sophie click through all of the ones with her and Harry.
